What makes a poem a poem? It’s about so much more than words on a page. The structure of a line, the length of a stanza and even the blank space can hold and reveal meaning, themes and possibilities beyond the confines of ink. Learn the key aspects of shape, tone, language and poetic form, and create work that excites you, with the T. S. Eliot Prize nominated poet Ella Frears.

Through a series of low-pressure exercises, this course will encourage you to explore the self, drawing on real experiences while also feeling the joy of letting go of our ideas of ‘truth’ within a poem. You will be invited to use the authority of the body to centre the writing experience and get to the heart of your voice. Using contemporary art and the natural world as a starting point, we will explore voice and the process of writing radically that are textual, honest and truly get to the centre of your idea.

This course is for:
Beginners to intermediate poets who want to build confidence in their voice and creative process
Anyone interested in learning more about poetic form to help enrich their experience in engaging with poetry
Anyone looking for a creative jumpstart to their own writing

Ella Frears works at the intersection of poetry and visual art, mentoring visual artists who use text, as well as working across media herself. She was recently named the first poet in residence for the Dartington Trust Gardens and is a Royal Literary Fellow at the Courtauld Institute of Art. She hosts Tears for Frears, a quarterly show on Soho Radio about the moments – big, small and unexpected – that move us to tears.

Dates: Monday 14 – Friday 18 October 2024
Location: Dartington Trust, South Devon
Cost: Course fee: £620 / Course fee with accommodation: £830

Further info and to book here